The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 187

nvi. 18, etc.). "There is forgiveness with God, that he may be feared" (Ps. cxxx. 4). ·•rhere would be no "fear," no reverence, no worship, no service of the Holy One, if for- giveness of sin were not attainable at once. That is the starting-point and condition -of human devotion. •III. THE ATTENDANT Bl'IRITUAL BTEP-RLF·SURRENDEB. When Aaron had presented the sin offering for himself, he had not concluded his oblation ; " he slew the burnt • ,offering" also (ver. 12). So with "the people's offering" (vers. 15, 16). The signifi- i:ance of this second sacrifice was that the worshipper consecrated himself on the altar (to the service) of Jehovah. A perfect picture of sacred and abiding truth. We cannot go in humility and penitence, seeking mercy through Christ Jesus, without offering -ourselves to him who has bought us with the price of his own blood. The soul longin~ . for reconciliation with God offers itself freely in holy service unto him, lays itself on his --iltar, Ii. "whole burnt offering unto the Lord." A living faith in Christ implies the -eager taking of everything from him, and the cheerful giving of everything to him. IV. THE CERTAIN ISSUE-A BLESSED SPIRITUAL ESTATE. A .. meat offering" and « peace offerings" (vers.17, 18) came after the other two. Sin forgiven, self surrendered, -then comes a sense of reconciliation, grateful acknowledgment of God's kindness, a holy joy in him (Rom. v. 1, 11). The assurance in the heart of Divine forgivenf'ss, and the consequent surpassing peace and elevated joy, may not immediately follow. In the Divine life, the peace offering does not always come directly after the burnt offering. But it will come; it does come; and then, "oh, the blr.ssedness of the man whose trans- !iression is forgiven I" etc. (literal translation, Ps. x:n:ii. 1). "Seek, and ye shall find" (Matt. vii. 7).-C. Ver. 22.-Holy invocation. This was an imposing act of plety, one which our imagination easily presents to our mind~, and which affects us as profoundly interesting. The high priest, after solemnly and with holy awe offering the sacrifices of himself and the people, comes forth from the Divine presence, and with hands lifted up to heaven, utters, amid intense silence, the sacred words, "The Lord bless thee and keep thee," etc. (Numb. vi. 23-26). It was a scene fitted to subdue and sanctify the heart. It was .also a·beautiful act of piety. There is an admirable conformity to what is fitting and excellent in thenature of things, that the man who hn<l gone with the people's burden of sin into the presence of God, and who had there sought and found for the people the Divine ·mercy, should, as he came from the holy pince, bring to the people the blessing of the Most High. It was also an instinctive act of piety. It teaches us- , I. THAT HE WBO WOULD BLESS BIB BACE HUST FIRST DE RIGHT WITH Goo. Aaron could not have ventured on the holy invocation, if he himself hnd not been in the -conscious enjoyment of the Divine favour. We must not expect to render any sub- :.Stantial religious service to our generation, if we have not ourselves returned unto our Father, and been reconciled unto him through Chri~t. Without all contradiction, the 1ess is blessed of the better, and "he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than" any one who stands without. II. THAT THE NEARER A MAN IS TO Goo THE MORE EFFECTUAL IS HIS ROLY INVOCA- TION. It was directly after offering sacrifice, and in close connection with that act, immediately after standing at the altar of Jehovah, that Aaron II lifted up his hand and blessed the people." It is not the official in the kingdom of Ghrist-all we are brethren -but it is the man who II walks with God," who "stands before God" continually, -who II abides in Christ,n who is "beloved of the Lord,"-it is he whose word of holy, ,f!arnest invocation will most avail to bless. Ill. THAT THERE ARE MANY UNKNOWN BENEFACTORS OF OUR RACE WHO BRING DOWN ·THE llLEBBmG OF Goo UPON us. 11 More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of"-by interceding prayer, by the earnest, believing invocation of the holy. Who shall say what essential service some have rendered who have quietly and secretly brought down the blessing from on high? Perhaps the uplifting of holy hands in the -silent chamber may have done more to end the great campaign which is lasting throuITh 0 the centuries, than some notable and noisy lives men talk much of. IV. '!'HAT THOSE WHO HAVE INTERCEDING KINDRED SHOULD REA!.IZE THEIR BPE0IAL -flESPONBIDILITY. '!'hey are the subjects not only of direct human influence, but of those Divine inHuences which are thus drawn down from above. 148 THE DOOK OF LEVITICUS. [ell. IX., 1-24.